HM Shah to CM Channi: Will examine AAP’s alleged ties with separatists

New Delhi, Feb 18: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday assured Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi that he himself will get the matter of Aam Aadmi Party having alleged links with pro Khalistan outfit SFJ examined and that no one will be allowed to play with the unity and integrity of the country. Responding to Channi’s letter, the Home Minister said that the government has taken the issue “very seriously.” “As per your letter, for a political party to have links with an anti-national, separatist and banned outfit and get support in polls is very serious for unity and integrity of the country. The agenda of such elements is no different from that of the enemies of the country. It is highly condemnable that such people, in order to attain power, can go to the extent of joining hands with the separatists to breaking up of Punjab and the country,” the Home Minister said. Further Amit Shah wrote, “I assure you that no one will be allowed to play with the unity and integrity of the country. Government of India has taken this issue very seriously and I myself will get the matter examined.” Earlier, Channi wrote to Amit Shah enclosing the copy of a letter circulating in social media and said, “The letter is in Punjabi language and contents of this letter show that the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), which is a banned organization, is in constant touch with the Aam Aadmi Party. It has been mentioned in the letter that the SFJ has given its support to AAP in the elections to the State Assembly in 2017 and similarly in these elections too, the SFJ has exhorted the electorate to vote for AAP.” Further, Channi wrote demanding ‘appropriate action’ in the matter, “It is understood that this is a very serious issue of compromising with the security and integrity of the country and thus needs to be thoroughly investigated.” Channi also raised the allegations of Kumar Vishwas against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and said that Vishwas’s serious charges deserve to be probed comprehensively and necessary action taken accordingly.